Jess Pettitt’s Highly Anticipated New Book!
Almost Doing Good
DOING THE BEST YOU CAN WITH WHAT YOU HAVE SOME OF THE TIME
Almost Doing Good
What if ‘almost’ could be your organization’s secret weapon for DEI success?
This is not your typical DEI book. It’s an invitation to embrace disruption, tackle complexity, and move beyond good intentions toward real, measurable impact. In this book, you’ll discover practical framework to help you Prepare, Recognize, and Respond effectively to DEI challenges as well as more than 20 Real-World Case Studies from actual clients across many different industries to learn how an almost-ing effort fell short from doing good.
Pettitt’s candid, humorous, and no-nonsense style will inspire you to take action, even when the path forward isn’t clear. Because in the world of DEI, ‘almost’ is a powerful step toward lasting change. Almost Doing Good is essential not just for DEI practitioners, but for anyone in leadership or HR Roles who want to contribute to building inclusive workplace cultures – only you can do the best you can with what you have some of the time because organizational responsibility is everyone’s responsibility.
- Almost-ing Is A Critical Step Towards Progress
- Disrupt the Norm
- Normalizing Complexity
- The Do-Good Triangle
- Prepare: understand your starting point.
- Recognize: Engage with stakeholders, understand their perspectives.
- Respond: Implement strategies that address identified gaps and challenges.
- Case Studies and Practical Tools for Immediate Action
- Real World Application
- Proof of Opportunity for Success
- Concrete Evidence of Failure
- Contextual Understanding Regardless of Industry
- Reduces Risk and Support Decision Making Processes
- Inspire Confidence to Innovate and Collaborate
“Whether you currently have a fan covered in an unwanted substance or perhaps are just looking for the right questions to ask to get answers to the wrong questions you’ve been asking about DEI initiatives, this book provides a step-by-step, action-oriented process. Learning from all of Jess’s real stories, case studies, and unfortunate organizational failures makes for a great study in organizational culture transformation.”
~Angela Prestil
Senior Consultant, Financial Institutions (FI) Strategies,
Former Vice President of Business Development
COMING SOON! OCTOBER 8th
About The Author
Perhaps it’s her Texas roots, but Jess Pettitt, MBA, M.Ed., CSP, believes that to really thrive in this world, you have to ride two horses—one of giving and one of receiving. For Jess, the giving horse is her passion for service, and the receiving horse is the high she rides entertaining audiences.
For almost 10 years, Jess rode one horse by day, serving as an administrator in student aEairs for university Diversity and Inclusion programs, and the other by night, performing and hosting three times a week doing stand-up in New York City’s most popular comedy clubs (ask her about George Carlin’s nickname for her or sharing an eggroll birthday cake with Bob Newhart).
Eventually, Jess discovered she could ride both horses at the same time in the same career, and a speaker in the DEI space was born. Now, nearly 20 years and half a million audience members later, Jess gallops from coast to coast delivering her “Good Enough Now” message to anyone willing to take the leap toward creating a much more inclusive organization.
If you’d like to discuss bringing in one of the funniest speakers you’ll ever hear to deliver actionable content on everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Leadership and Diversity but were afraid to ask, reach out to Jess today.
Praise for Almost Doing Good
“This book is a must-read if you’re yearning to cultivate a workplace that crackles with purpose and empowers your people to shine. It dives deep into the power of a diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy that flips the script on traditional blame games and fosters trust, accountability, and psychological safety. Jess Pettitt doesn’t just preach it; she provides practical tools and strategies to dismantle a fear-based culture and build one where vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness. This book is brimming with actionable steps to transform your leadership style and create an environment where everyone thrives. It’s a wake-up call for leaders who want to move beyond fear and ignite a culture unafraid to deal with today’s challenges. You should read and implement it—your people and bottom line will thank you.”
~Anton J. Gunn, MSW, CDM, CSP
Keynote Speaker and Two-Time Best-Selling Author
“Jessica Pettitt’s new book, Almost Doing Good, serves as a transformative guide for organizations navigating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Through a blend of humor, tough love, and practical advice, Pettitt offers a roadmap for cultural transformation, urging leaders to embrace failures as meaningful steps forward and leverage disruption for positive change in the workplace.”
~Amy C. Waninger
Author of Network Beyond Bias
“From addressing cultural clashes to navigating conflicting perspectives, Almost Doing Good offers practical tools and frameworks to help organizations thrive amid diversity.”
~Bernadette Smith
Keynote Speaker and Author, Inclusive 360
“In a world that often encourages a ‘head in the sand’ approach to challenges, Jess Pettit’s visionary perspective shines as a beacon of actionable wisdom. Pettitt’s invitation to confront the unknown with intentionality, collaboration, and a deep understanding of our shared potential resonates with my own journey of inspiring and educating leaders. Through this book, Jess Pettit challenges us to not only recognize the potential within but also act upon it with courage and purpose. It’s a clarion call to lead with empathy, embrace change, and forge a path towards a more inclusive and sustainable future.”
~Devin Thorpe
CEO and Champion of Social Good, The Super Crowd, Inc., a PBC
“In Almost Doing Good, Jess Pettitt masterfully navigates the intricate landscape of DEI, urging us to confront our biases and embrace curiosity. Her powerful analogies and personal insights not only illuminate the challenges but also chart a path forward for meaningful change. This book is a beacon for anyone committed to fostering inclusivity and understanding in our communities and workplaces. It’s a must-read for those ready to transform good intentions into impactful actions.”
~Glen Guyton
Trainer, Speaker, Cultural Competency Navigator
“Jess Pettitt is a well-established, seasoned leader in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion whose mastery of the subject is evidenced in her latest book, Almost Doing Good. The book is beautifully written, providing clear, thought-provoking examples of a myriad of DEI issues commonly (and not so commonly) faced by DEI practitioners across industries. Pettitt constantly reminds us to look deeper (both within ourselves and our organizations) and ask the hard questions that allow us to reach the hidden layers that keep us from holding space and relationships with others. She challenges us to always include our stakeholders, ask more thoughtful and intentional questions, and carve out time and space to be fully engaged with those who reply. Almost Doing Good is an absolutely essential read for both DEI professionals and companies that want to transform their cultures to be more diverse, equitable, and inclusive to all.”
~Donna Mack, MEd
The Disability Diplomat™
Disability Access and Inclusion Specialist, Professional Speaker, Trainer, Consultant
